Activities - International Environmental Technology Centre

Agenda 21 

Agenda 21 is the worldwide environmental 

action plan for sustainable development of 

the 21st century adopted at the Earth 

Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. 

C ontents 

Our RoleEstablishment of IETC in 1994 

............................................................... 1 

Greetings 

........................................................... 2,3 

Our Focus and Approaches 

........................................................... 4,5 

Our Performance and Achievements 

........................................................... 6,7 

Activities Since 1994 

....................................................... 811 

Products 

........................................................ 12,13 

Partnership 

............................................................. 14 

Profile 

..................................................... 1524 

Cover : IETC promotes environmentally sound technologies for sustainable development of cities, 

symbolized with bricks and wheels, and freshwater, symbolized with blue ripples.

Our Role 

Our Role 

Establishment of IETC in 1994 

The International Environmental Technology Centre 

was established by the United Nations Environment 

Programme (UNEP) in 1994 to strengthen UNEP's 

role in the sustainable management of urban areas 

and freshwater basins. IETC's main role is to 

promote application, adoption and use of 

Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs) for 

sustainable development of cities and freshwater 

basins in developing countries and 

countries with economies in transition. 

UN 

The United Nations officially 

came into existence on 

24 October 1945, when 

the United Nations Charter was ratified 

for global efforts to solve problems 

which challenge humanity. 

Cooperating in this effort are 

more than 30 affiliated organizations, 

known together as the UN system. 

UNEP 

UNEP was established in 1972 to 

provide leadership and encourage 

partnerships in caring for the 

environment by inspiring, informing and 

enabling nations and peoples to 

improve their quality of life without 

compromising that of future generations. 

Imagine putting an enormous bell jar over a city. 

What would happen? Just as no animal can cope on its 

own, no city can manage without its outlying rural areas. 

(Adapted from "mini-report II" of the Swedish Association 

of Local Authorities) 

1

Greetings 

Greetings 

Congratulatory Message from Executive Director of UNEP to IETC 

As we enter the new millennium we are grappling with a range of environmental 

challenges - pollution of freshwater and water shortages, loss of fertile soils, air pollution, 

climate change, ozone depletion, species extinctions, water management and rapid 

urbanisation. In charting a new course for global environmental policy, we must not only 

look for the causes of these environmental problems, but also for sustainable solutions. 

This means, for example, promotion of more sustainable ways of using water and 

producing energy, including increased efficiency; raised environmental awareness among 

the public, and innovative local solutions to environmental problems in all countries of the 

world. To help develop and implement sustainable solutions the International Environmental 

Technology Centre (IETC) was established in April 1994 by the agreement between the 

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Government of Japan. It has two 

offices in Japan - Osaka City and Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture. Since its establishment, 

IETC has been supported by two Japanese foundations - the Global Environment Centre 

Foundation (GEC) and the International Lake Environment Committee Foundation (ILEC). 

The Centre's main function is to promote the adoption of Environmentally Sound 

Technologies (ESTs) in developing countries and countries with economies in transition. IETC pays specific attention to 

urban problems, such as energy management, sewage, air pollution, solid waste and to the management of 

freshwater basins. 

IETC's mandate is based on Agenda 21, which came out of the UNCED process held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. 

To deliver its mandate IETC focuses on three main approaches: (1) Improving access to information on ESTs; 

(2) Fostering technology cooperation, partnerships, adoption and use of ESTs; and (3) Capacity building. 

In welcoming the new millennium IETC has decided to publish a Five-year Report (1994-1999), which summarizes 

the yearly activities of IETC. I welcome this initiative by IETC to further communicate its mission and programmes to its 

broad range of stakeholder groups. 

Former German Federal Minister for the 

Environment, Nature Conservation and 

Nuclear Safety and also for Regional 

Planning, Building and Urban Development 

and Coordinator for the Transfer of the 

Parliament and Federal Government to 

Berlin and Compensation for the Bonn 

Region. United Nations Under-Secretary- 

General. 

.. 

Dr. Klaus Topfer, UNEP 

2

From the Government of Japan 

On behalf of the host government, I would like to congratulate the issuance of its Fiveyear 

Report in which IETC's activities are compiled as one of various products of IETC 

since its establishment. 

With the recognition of the importance of smooth technology transfer to 

developing countries to deal with environmental issues, the Government of Japan 

invited IETC to Japan in 1990. IETC has been highly evaluated as an organization to 

tackle urban environmental problems and water issues in UNEP through effective 

technology transfer to the developing countries and countries with economies in 

transition. The Government of Japan, as the top donor, has since then contributed 

approximately US$19 million to support IETC's activities. 

It is considered that the urban environmental problems and water issues are 

becoming more and more crucial for human beings in the world. It can be said that 

many countries have not yet taken the sufficient measures in solid waste and 

wastewater management, atmospheric pollution, noise problem, chemical compounds 

and the other environment-related matters. More than 90 per cent of the Earth's water 

is seawater and the freshwater accounts only for a few per cent. This scarce freshwater 

is the essential resource for the lives of human beings and the other creatures on the Earth. The water issue, just like 

food problem, will be the one of the most crucial matters with which we have to grapple in the next century. 

We will be facing to new challenges in the 21st century. As the forefront organization to tackle with these issues, 

I wish IETC further success and also its activities to become well known to the public through this Report for IETC's 

securing further support from the international communities. 

Joined Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1969 and 

have been engaged in the various fields such 

as Intelligence and Analysis Bureau and 

Foreign Policy Bureau as Minister at the 

Embassy of Japan in Indonesia, Ambassador 

of Japan to UN in New York. 

Mr. Yukio Takasu, MOFA 

From Global Environment Centre Foundation 

On behalf of Global Environment Centre 

Foundation (GEC) I extend my warmest 

congratulations on the publication of the 

Five-year Report by IETC at the beginning 

of the new millennium. 

As one of IETC's supporting 

foundations, GEC has contributed to assist 

IETC's activities such as the provision of 

cooperation staff who have expertise to 

practically contribute to IETC's planning 

and implementation of projects. GEC also 

joined the project team to initiate IETC's 

information tool on environmental 

technologies called maESTro which was 

introduced in April 1997. Aside from 

collecting information, planning, 

developing and disseminating maESTro, 

we contributed to provide information on environmental 

technologies obtained through research to be incorporated into 

maESTro. GEC has also assisted IETC in organizing symposia 

and seminars and issuing newsletters and publications in order to 

disseminate IETC's activities. 

I wish that this Report will be very useful for future IETC's 

activities and GEC's continuous involvement. With close 

cooperation with the other supporting foundation, International 

Lake Environment Committee Foundation (ILEC), GEC will make 

best efforts to further support IETC. 

I wish IETC to widen its activities to continue to prosper. 

Former President and Professor 

Emeritus of Osaka University. Serving 

currently as commissioner of the 

Prime Minister's Council for Science 

and Technology, President and 

Director General of the Institute of 

Nuclear Safety Systems, Inc. and 

President of the Calamity Science 

Institute. 

Dr. Nobuaki Kumagai, 

GEC 

From International Lake Environment 

Committee Foundation 

In commemoration of the issuance of 

IETC's Five-year Report, I, on behalf of 

International Lake Environment Committee 

Foundation (ILEC), would like to make a 

congratulatory statement. 

The global environment has drastically 

changed for the last five years. The lakes 

and reservoirs for which ILEC has worked, 

have been recognized as one of the crucial 

elements in the ecosystem. In particular, 

water, as the essential resource for human 

beings, is foreseen to be scarce in the 

21st century. 

ILEC has cooperated with IETC to 

accumulate information related to the 

environment and management of lakes and reservoirs throughout 

the world, to transfer environmentally sound technologies to the 

developing countries and to provide the information through 

the internet. In cooperation with IETC, several conferences and 

training programmes will be held in 2000. ILEC also plans in 2001 

to hold the 9th World Lake Conference in Shiga which will be the 

first international conference on environment in the 21st century 

in Japan. 

I wish that for the closer relations with IETC, ILEC will raise the 

public awareness on the importance of lakes and reservoirs at the 

various international conferences and promote technology transfer 

to the developing countries through its training as well as taking 

further positive actions to preserve the lakes in the world. 

After the experience of 27 years at the 

Ministry of Welfare and 5 years at the 

Environment Agency as Director 

General of the Planning Coordination 

Bureau and Administrative Vice- 

Minister, he was appointed the 

chairman of Bayer in Japan. 

Mr. Kei Yamazaki, ILEC 

3

Our Focus 

Freshwater, therefore, is a scarce resource, often a limiting factor 



ur Focus and Approaches 

At IETC we pay specific attention to the promotion, adoption and use of 

Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs) in helping solve urban 

environmental problems such as water quality, sewage, solid waste, 

energy, urban sprawl, land contamination, transport, air pollution and 

noise. With urban populations growing two and a half times faster 

than its rural counterpart, the UN estimates that the level of urban 

population will cross the 50 per cent mark in 2005. By 2025, more than 

60 percent of the world's population will live in urban areas. 

The estimated urban population in that year will be approximately 

5.4 billion, of whom 77 per cent will live in developing countries. 

The management of freshwater basins is also of prime concern to 

IETC and lakes are one of the planet's most important freshwater 

resources providing water for urban, agricultural and industrial uses for 

much of the world's population. We are all familiar with the image of 

the Earth as the "blue planet" when seen from space. It gives 

the impression that water is plentiful and indeed it is. However, pictures 

can be deceiving. Freshwater only accounts for 2.15 per cent of all the 

Earth's water. But even that percentage is deceiving because 99.5 per 

cent of all surface freshwater is locked away in continental ice. 

for development, and one which we should take great care to protect. 

4 

KANSAI Area 

Lake Biwa 

SHIGA 

OSAKA 

4

How to be supported 

GEC 

Global Environment Centre Foundation 

ILEC 

International Lake Environment Committee Foundation 

Cities 

polluting 

consuming 

Freshwater 

The Global Environment 

Centre Foundation (GEC) 

contributes its expertise in 

urban environment 

management and the 

sustainable development of 

large cities around the world. 

The International Lake 

Environment Committee 

Foundation (ILEC) 

contributes its substantial 

knowledge of the 

environmentally sustainable 

management of freshwater resources. 

Cities are the biggest consumers of freshwater, while being the biggest polluters. 

As both issues are closely interlinked with each other, IETC tries to tackle both issues 

in relation to the other. 

OSAKA 

SHIGA 

Three Major Approaches 

-2 

The IETC strategy is based primarily on Agenda 21, which emerged from the 1992 United 

Nations Conference on Environment and Development. In addressing urban and freshwater 

problems, IETC, instead of addressing each problem directly, tries to support initiatives of 

relevant governments and decision-makers, so that they can choose the most appropriate 

sustainable options based upon their needs. To this end, IETC takes three inter-connected 

approaches: (i) by providing better access to information on ESTs, (ii) offering capacitybuilding 

training for appropriate decision-making, and (iii) fostering partnerships 

among stakeholders. 

In order to provide better access to information on ESTs, IETC developed a searchable 

directory called ''maESTro''. It is a tool to collect information on ESTs from disparate sources 

around the world, and to make them available for everybody in all 

different media such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, the Internet and 

printed reports. IETC also distributes printed publications, newsletters both 

in print and on the Internet. 

In order for people to better utilize the information and make 

appropriate decisions based on it, IETC develops training modules 

Improving access to 

information on 

Environmentally 

Sound Technologies 

appropriate for developing countries and countries with economies in 

transition. These modules are particularly designed to build the 

capacities of national and local decision-makers to manage their 

environment and deal with environmental problems. 

Lastly, in order to implement any decisions, IETC fosters 

technology cooperation and partnerships regarding the successful 

adoption and use of ESTs by providing a range of advisory services. 

Fostering technology 

cooperation, 

partnerships and 

transfer 

Capacity building 

A F I V E - Y E A R H I S T O R Y 

5

World Wide 

Over the last five years, gradually, IETC has attained recognition as 

a global centre that is an integral part of UNEP. Motivated by the 

desire to promote the transfer of environmentally sound 

technologies to all countries in the developing parts of the world, 

our accomplishments this far are modest but significant. 

We have maintained our image as an international centre. 

Our information and capacity building services are serving the 

world and reaching out to all our beneficiary countries and clients. 

IETC publications are distributed globally; and the information 

system and management tool, maESTro, is a global, comprehensive 

information directory of ESTs, that is appreciated for its objectivity 

and neutrality; and our partners, collaborators and supporters are 

governments, public and private institutions, organizations and 

agencies from all over the world. 

IETC reports that as of 1999 IETC, since 1994, has undertaken 

activities that have reached almost 98 per cent of the total number 

of developing countries and countries with economies in transition. 

The only countries where our information materials and services 

have not reached are those that are unreachable because of war, 

conflicts and other hazards that bar normal postal services and 

communications: for example, Afghanistan, Angola, Sierra Leone 

and a few others. 

IETC's global research projects have produced a series of 

publications, i.e., an International Sourcebooks on Environmentally 

Sound Technologies for Municipal Solid Waste Management in 

1996; Regional Sourcebooks on Alternative Technologies for 

Freshwater Augmentation in 1995-1997, which covered in 

separate volumes the regions of Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern 

Europe, and Latin America and the Caribbean; and a book on the 

Planning and Management of Lakes and Reservoirs in 1999. 

Our Performance and Achievements 

Our Performance and Achieveme 

ur Performance and Achievements 

Central and Eastern Europe 

In Central and Eastern Europe, two regional 

workshops were organized - one on Environmental 

Risk Assessment (EnRA) in Katowice, Poland in 1996 

and another on EMS in Szentendre, Hungary in 

1998. A roundtable was also held in Katowice in 

1999 to review proposals for a demonstration project 

on trenchless technologies. In addition, two 

professionals from Rumania were trained on 

environmental management at the training for LDCs 

in the Philippines. 

Africa 

In Africa, two training activities have been held - a 

Regional Workshop on Environmental Technology 

Assessment (EnTA) which was held in South Africa 

in 1997 and a Regional Training on the Planning 

and Management of Lakes and Reservoirs, which 

was held in Naivasha, Kenya in 1998. Other than 

training Africans in Africa, four urban managers 

and two officials from Zambia, Zimbabwe and 

Cote d'Ivoire have been benefited with training that 

were held in other regions. Nairobi and Djibouti 

have also received technical advisory assistance in 

solid waste management and special oil waste 

management, respectively, in 1998 and 1999. 

West Asia 

In West Asia, we organized one activity - an Inter- 

Regional Workshop on Integrated Waste 

Management to Protect Freshwater Resources, 

which was held in 1999 in Alexandria, Egypt. As 

with the other regions where we produced a 

publication on Alternative Technologies for 

Freshwater Augmentation, a similar publication for 

West Asia is forthcoming. This is a joint project 

with the Regional Office for West Asia in Bahrain. 


6

In helping build the capacities of our clients and beneficiaries, our 

global training activities have included a training course on 

environmental management for Least Developed Countries (LDCs), 

which was co-organized by the Government of the Philippines in 

1999 and two workshops on the full range of selection, application 

and management of Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs), 

which were held in Dresden, Germany in1997 and in Australia in 

1998. We have organized international expert meetings and 

round tables, i.e., on solid waste management in Harvard 

University in 1996, on Environmental Management Systems (EMS) 

in Budapest in 1997, on wastewater and stormwater management 

in Osaka in 1998, and on Environmental Technology Verification 

(ETV) in Washington D.C. in 1999. These group training activities 

and meetings were a small gathering of about 30-35 persons. 

The biggest global meeting that we have organized was the 

Symposium on Efficient Water Use, which was held in Kobe, Japan 

in 1999, where there were 145 participants from 50 countries. 

To enhance the knowledge base in our focal areas, we have 

undertaken two global surveys. The first survey was on information 

systems and sources that focus on environmentally sound 

technologies. This was done upon the request of the Commission on 

Sustainable Development (CSD) in 1995. The results of this survey 

served as the basis for the creation of maESTro. The second global 

survey, although on a limited scale, was on endogenous 

environmentally sound technologies. Again, this was undertaken in 

response to a suggestion by CSD to do research on this subject. 

IETC's activities are also implemented at the regional level for 

more impact as well as value. These activities include regional 

workshops, regional consultations and joint research projects with 

partner academic institutions. 

ts 

Asia and Pacific 

The Americas 

In the Americas, we implemented in October 1998, 

in Jamaica, a Regional Workshop on Selection, 

Application, Adoptation and Management of ESTs 

with a focus on ESTs for wastewater management. 

The workshop was co-organized by the Caribbean 

Environment Programme of UNEP whose office is in 

Kingston, Jamaica. In addition, two persons from 

Cuba were sponsored to participate in international 

events outside of Latin America. 

Perhaps, because of proximity and convenience 

vis-a-vis our location, we have had more activities 

implemented in Asia and Pacific than in other 

regions. In this region, we have undertaken one 

Regional Workshop on EnTA, which was held in 

Kuala Lumpur in 1995; one national workshop on 

Solid Waste Management in the Philippines in 

1996; and two national seminar-workshops on 

EnTA and EnRA in China in 1997. We have also 

provided advisory assistance to the Local 

Government of Murotowa, Sri Lanka on rapid 

environmental assessment of an urban lake in 

1997; and conducted a diagnostic study of selected 

lakes in Indonesia and China in 1995-97. On top 

of group training, we have sponsored six persons 

from China, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, the Philippines 

and Mongolia, to participate in overseas training 

or international events. 

7

about The Management of Urban Environment 

Agenda 21, arising out of the UNCED meeting in Rio de Janeiro, in 1992 sparked an 

unprecedented international movement for the environment. Because of the rising crisis 

of urbanization and environmental degradation, especially in the developing countries, 

unequivocally, the urban environment became the centre stage for the application of the 

basic principles and guidelines of Agenda 21. A number of programmes and 

institutions came forward to espouse its philosophy and concern for the urban 

environment. Among these was IETC. 

Chongging City, China. 




19941999 

about The Management of Freshwater Basins 

During 1994-1996, a variety of projects and activities related to freshwater resources 

were developed based on Agenda 21. It was already clear that some of the causes of 

water shortage were due to a lack of management and appropriate technologies, 

overexploitation of the resources due to the increase in population, pollution from 

domestic sources, industrial discharge and unsustainable land use amongst 

other factors. 

Lake Lacar, Argentina. 


8

Scope of Urban Environmental Management (UEM) 

IETC's International Advisory Board (IAB) during its first meeting in 1992 

recommended that the scope of urban environmental management (UEM) of 

IETC should cover the urban issues of air pollution, solid waste, wastewater, 

and noise. Cities have been the primary areas where IETC's work related to 

the urban environment have concentrated. 

When IETC became operational in 1994, its first major 

commitment in UEM was to support the Sustainable 

Cities Programme (SCP), a joint facility of UNEP and 

UNCHS (Habitat) that was approved by UNEP's 16th 

Governing Council in 1992 and by Habitat's 16th 

Commission on Human Settlements also in 1992. 

A visit to the Yangtze 

Together with the Human Health and Welfare Unit of River in Wuhan, China, 

as part of SCP. 

UNEP in Nairobi, IETC agreed to support the SCP cities 

of Shenyang and Wuhan in China and Katowice in 

Poland. As initial support, IETC provided the environment component for 

these projects by supporting the preparation of the Environment Profile of 

each city in 1995-1996 and the first training activities for local government 

staff on Environmental Risk Assessment (EnRA) and Environmental 

Technology Assessment (EnTA) in 1996 and again in 1997. The SCP served 

as the framework for directing IETC's assistance to cities on UEM. 

Building the knowledge base and capacities for UEM 

Developing the knowledge base for UEM was among the first orders of the 

day for IETC. Considered as priority for development were decisionmaking 

support tools for environmental management. The first tools 

developed were Environmental Technology Assessment (EnTA) and 

Environmental Risk Assessment (EnRA). A technical paper on EnRA for 

Sustainable Cities was published in 1996. EnTA 

became a joint programme with UNEP's Industry 

and Environment - Programme Action Centre in 

Paris (now the Production and Consumption Unit 

of UNEP's Division of Technology, Industry and 

Economics) also in 1996. Workbooks on both 

EnRA and EnTA were prepared for training 

purposes. The EnRA Workbook was field tested at 

"Environmental Risk 

the regional workshops in Poland and China in 

Assessment for 

October 1996 and June 1997, respectively. 

Sustainable Cities" 

Promoting Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs) 

for Sustainable Development of Cities and Freshwater Basins 

in Developing Countries and Countries with Economies in Transition 

Freshwater Augmentation 

The identification of Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs) to augment 

freshwater management became one of the main objectives of IETC. A series 

of Sourcebooks for each of the major regions of the world were designed. 

These Sourcebooks covered different aspects such as augmentation itself (i.e. 

rainwater and fog harvesting, artificial recharging 

of aquifers, recycling, etc.), quality improvement 

(desalination, clarification, disinfection, filtration, 

etc.) and conservation (irrigation, distribution, etc.). 

IETC did not only focus on the above mentioned 

projects but also sponsored a number of events with 

various partners like the United Nations University, 

the International Lake Environment Committee 

Foundation (ILEC) in holding Forum and Symposium 

on the Caspian, Aral and Dead Seas (held in the 

City of Otsu, Shiga, Japan in March 1995). 

"Sourcebook of 

Alternative Technologies 

for Freshwater 

Augmentation in Africa" 

Lake Management and Technologies 

In relation to lake management and use of ESTs, two major projects were 

undertaken: one in the People's Republic of China and the other in Indonesia. 

The first project, "The Environmentally Sound Management of Lake Erhai and 

the Xier River Basin in the Yunnan Province Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture" 

looked at environmental, socioeconomic, and tourism related aspects together 

with identification of technological approaches to prevent and control the 

pollution of this water bodies from industrial and domestic sources. 

The project was designed as part of a more 

comprehensive study carried out in conjunction with 

the United Nations Development Programme 

(UNDP). The second project in Indonesia looked at 

the technological requirements for the sustainable 

management of two lakes on the island of Java: 

Rawa Danau and Rawa Penning. 

Rawa Penning, Indonesia 

9

about The Management of Urban Environment 

Period of Growth up to 1999 

Environmental Management Systems (EMS) as an 

important decision support tool was later developed as 

a collaborative undertaking with GEC. An EMS Training 

Module was prepared and used at the Regional 

Workshop on EMS for Central and Eastern Europe that 

was held in Budapest in September 1998. 

A lecture on EMS. 

The technique of creating an Environmental Profile (EP) as a decision support 

tool was developed together with UNCHS (Habitat). Rapid Urban 

Environmental Assessment (RUEA), which is an initiative of the Urban 

Management Programme of UNCHS/UNDP/World Bank, was introduced 

together with the other decision support tools at the International Training on 

Environmental Management for LDCs in 1998. 

To assist decision-makers better understand and appreciate the usefulness 

and distinctiveness of each tool without losing sight of their 

interconnectedness, IETC prepared in 1999 a Technical Workbook on 

Environmental Management Tools for Decision Analysis. The workbook 

integrates the roles of EnTA, EnRA, EMS, EP and RUEA as decision 

support tools and puts in perspective their unique and distinct 

features as tools within the framework of environmental 

management. 

On the substantive side, IETC focused on 

preparing source books and compilation of 

information on issues related to solid waste and 

wastewater since these were identified as most 

critical issues in developing countries. An 

International Sourcebook on Environmentally 

Sound Technologies for Municipal Solid Waste 

Management was prepared and published in 

"International Source 

October 1996 with the assistance of Harvard Book on ESTs for 

International Institute for Development. 

Municipal Solid Waste 

Management" 

A similar type of publication but on the subject 

of wastewater and stormwater was started in 1998 and is expected to be 

completed in December 2000 with the assistance of Murdoch University 

in Australia. 




19941999 

about The Management of Freshwater Basins 

Some other important activities were undertaken during 

this period. Many of these activities were carried out with 

ILEC, for example International Shiga Forum on 

Technology for Water Management in the 21st Century 

held in Japan in November 1996. This Forum looked at 

technology for water management, and the role of 

international co-operation. 

Freshwater Management and 

Relevant Workshops 

During 1996-1999 IETC carried out projects relating to 

freshwater management. These projects included the 

"Workshop on Adopting, Applying and Operating 

Environmentally Sound Technologies for Domestic and 

Industrial Wastewater Treatment for the Wider Caribbean 

Region" in co-operation with the Caribbean Environment 

Programme of UNEP. This workshop was the follow up of 

Shiga forum on 

Technology for Water 

Management in the 21st 

Century, in Shiga, Japan. 

Workshop for the wider 

Caribbean Region in 

Jamaica. 

a similar Workshop held in Dresden, Germany 

during 1996 (which is focused on urban and 

freshwater management) supported by IETC where 

government officials from the region made the 

specific request to IETC to undertake a similar one 

on freshwater management in the Wider Caribbean 

Region. The workshop was also designed as a 

supporting activity of the Barbados Programme of 

Action for the Small Island Development States (SIDs). 

Eutrophication 

A project related to the management of lakes and 

reservoirs started in 1996 focusing on one of the 

main problems affecting these water bodies - 

eutrophication. Twenty-six experts from around the 

world participated in the preparation of a book. 

This publication considered environmental, social 

Caspian Sea. 

Barra Bonita Reservoir, 

Brazil, suffering from 

eutrophication. 

10

Over and above providing information, IETC is 

interested in enabling decision-makers ---- local 

authorities, policy makers and urban managers ---- 

in developing countries to make informed 

technology decisions for UEM. To attain this 

objective, IETC has undertaken four types of 

activities: (1) It has prepared training modules on A workshop in South 

Africa. 

selected substantive areas, i.e., solid waste 

management and wastewater/stormwater 

management, as well as on selected decision 

support tools; (2) It has organized six regional group training activities 

and two global training activities, which used the training modules and 

technical workbooks that were developed; (3) It has granted fellowships 

to twelve persons from China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Mongolia, Sri 

Lanka, Cuba, Kenya, and South Africa to participate in specialized 

training courses or international events that are of particular interest or 

relevance to IETC; and (4) It has extended policy and technical advisory 

services to four governments upon their request. The requests have 

come from Sri Lanka for a consultant to do a rapid lake assessment of 

an urban lake; Metro Manila for assistance in designing a wastewater 

treatment facility; Nairobi for assistance in developing a solid waste 

management system for the city; and Djibouti for a consultant to do a 

rapid assessment of oily hazardous waste lying on the coasts of Djibouti 

and to submit recommendations on actions that need to be done. To 

respond to these requests, IETC dispatched two 

consultants who were provided by Australia to 

assist Sri Lanka; one expert came from Vietnam to 

assist Metro Manila; one consultant from 

WASTE/UWEP in the Netherlands to assist 

Nairobi; and one consultant was contributed by 

Environment Canada to assist Djibouti. 

Rapid urbanization often 

causes environmental 

degradation. 

Promoting Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs) 

for Sustainable Development of Cities and Freshwater Basins 

in Developing Countries and Countries with Economies in Transition 

and cultural aspects, technical, economic, public awareness and education 

components, institutional framework and regulatory of eutrophication. 

An abridged version for students has been prepared by the University of 

California at Santa Barbara (USA) in co-operation with IETC to be 

finalized in 2000. 

Regional Sourcebooks for Freshwater 

Augmentation 

A book covering the West Asian Region was still needed to complete the 

series of "Regional Sourcebooks on Alternative Technologies for Freshwater 

Augmentation" so the IETC, together with the Regional Office of West Asia of 

UNEP and the Arab Centre for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands 

(ACSAD) in Syria is producing the final volume. 

Public Awareness 

In 1999 the first volume of a series of books relating to the management of 

lakes and reservoirs was started. This is a combined project together with the 

International Lake Environment Committee 

Foundation (ILEC) and the Environmental Agency of 

the Government of Japan. The series will cover a 

range of topics to encourage citizens to be aware of 

the need for good management of lakes and 

reservoirs while at the same time encouraging their 

participation in their protection. The series will be 

an important contribution to the International Lake 

Conference 2001 to be held in Shiga and the first 

volume entitled "Lakes and Reservoirs: Similarities, 

Differences and Importance" has been published. 

Short Series on the 

management of lakes and 

reservoirs. 


11

The IETC ''maESTro'' is a comprehensive global directory on Environmentally Sound 

Technologies (ESTs) developed to promote the adoption and use of ESTs. The first official 

version of PC maESTro (1.0), which mainly focused on information dissemination through 

CD-ROMs and floppy diskettes, was completed in 1997. maESTro's web-version was first 

launched on IETC's homepage in 1998. Before the end of the millennium, PC maESTro 

(2.0) was developed. The new version is Y2K compliant, updated with over 2000 data 

entries, and improved with new search mechanism while maintaining its unique function of 

data sharing. The Internet version of maESTro is receiving around 2,000 visitors per month. 

maESTro is available in many media: floppy diskettes, 

CD-ROMs, Internet and printed report. 

Products 

Products 

Photo: Nuntawan Silpngamlert, entry to UNEP photographic competition 1991/1992. 


12

Homepage 

As part of UNEP's on-going efforts to foster wider dissemination of 

information on ESTs, IETC launched its Internet homepage on 15 February 

1996 with a support of GEC. This homepage covers some background 

information on IETC, its two supporting foundations, some latest news and 

events, on-going projects, newsletter and publications, the Internet version 

of maESTro and some related links both in and out of the UN family. 

Growing number of people have been visiting 

IETC's homepage from all over the world. 

http://www.unep.or.jp 

Publications 

The "IETC Technical Publication Series" and "IETC Report Series" have 

been published as a result of our activities and projects related to ESTs 

in the field of urban problems, such as air pollution, solid waste, and 

noise, and freshwater basin management. As of the end of 1999, ten 

issues are published under IETC's Technical Publication Series, six 

issues under Report Series and one other issue outside of these series. 

Newsletter 

Starting with the Fall 1994 edition, IETC has been publishing a 

periodical newsletter, entitled "IETC's INSIGHT". It is published 

three times a year, informing on activities of the Centre, its products 

and on developments in the field of Environmentally Sound 

Technologies (ESTs) for urban management and management of 

freshwater basins. It is distributed worldwide free of charge, and is 

also available on IETC's homepage. 

Video 

Since April 1999, IETC started a project to produce the IETC's 

introductory video first in English and Japanese funded by the two 

supporting foundations, GEC and ILEC. This video introduces 

IETC's foundation, approaches, activities and focuses using a lot of 

video shots and diagrams in about 14 minutes. In future, IETC also 

plan to make it available in other languages. 

Workshops/Seminars 

In order to build the capacities of national and local decision-makers, IETC organises workshops 

and seminars with global, regional or national scope on subjects related to improving 

environmental management practices in urban areas and for freshwater resources. By the end 

of 1999, IETC had held more than 15 workshops with participants from roughly 90 developing 

countries. The subjects for training ranged from overall environmental management to 

specialized fields, such as waste management of either solid or wastewater/stormwater EMS, 

and selected decision tools for environmental management, such as EnTA and EnRA. 

13

Damrong Juntawonsup, entry to UNEP photographic competition 1991/1992. 

Partnerships 

Partnerships 

Alireza Moskehy, entry to UNEP photographic competition 1991/1992. 

IETC is part of a network of organizations involved with the promotion of and 

application of Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs). We believe in reciprocity, 

joint action and collaborations between organizations and agencies in order to build on 

complementary strengths. Based on these principles IETC functions in a catalytic role 

and seeks to: 

Provide a forum for raising issues with other organizations. 

Advise and guide, providing information and insights into opportunity. 

Be a stimulus to other organizations to come together. 

IETC has been closely coordinating its activities with substantive offices of UNEP, mainly 

the Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (DTIE), and UNEP's regional offices. 

We are also implementing joint activities with the Sustainable Cities Programme (SCP) 

of UNCHS (Habitat), and working in close collaboration with the United Nations 

Development Programme (UNDP), the Commission for Sustainable Development (CSD), 

the International Labour Organization (ILO), the World Health Organization (WHO), 

the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the United Nations 

Commission on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Regional Economic 

Commissions and the United Nations organisations at large. 

14

INTERNATIONAL 

ENVIRONMENTAL 

TECHNOLOGY 

CENTRE 

Profile 

Profile 


15

UN 

UNEP 

United Nations Environment Programme 

DTIE 

Division of Technology, Industry and Economics (DTIE) 

GEC 

IETC 

International Environmental 

Technology Centre 

ILEC 

Global Environment 

Centre Foundation 

International Lake Environment 


16

Data 

Name 

United Nations Environment Programme - International Environmental Technology Centre (UNEP-IETC) 

Date of Conclusion of the Agreement between the Government of Japan and UNEP 

30 October 1992 

Mandate 

IETC's main role is to promote the adoption and use of Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs) to address 

urban environmental problems and the management of freshwater basins to developing countries and 

countries with economies in transition. 

Contacts 

Osaka Office: 2-110 Ryokuchi koen, Tsurumi-ku, Osaka 

538-0036 Japan 

tel:+81-6-6915-4581 

fax:+81-6-6915-0304 

Shiga Office: 1091 Oroshimo-cho, Kusatsu-city, Shiga 

525-0001 Japan 

tel:+81-77-568-4582 

fax:+81-77-568-4587 

Osaka Office 

supports work on 

urban areas. 

UNEP 

Shiga Office 

supports management 

of freshwater basins. 

E-mail: ietc@unep.or.jp 

Internet: http://www.unep.or.jp 

Global Environment 

Centre 

Foundation 

(GEC) 

provides cooperation 

staff, facilities, in-kind 

support. 

International Lake 

Environment 


(ILEC) 

provides cooperation 

staff, facilities, in-kind 

support. 

Graph: 

 

Some Programme Activities 

- IETC's newsletter, ITEC's INSIGHT, Technical Publication and Report Series, Information Bulletin (Japanese) 

- Development and maintenance of the EST information system, including maESTro 

- Publications and training materials on: 

1) Sustainable management of urban wastewater and stormwater 

2) Alternative sources of water for cities 

3) Air quality management in cities 

4) Planning and managing of lakes and reservoirs to address eutrophication 

5) Groundwater contamination and remediation 

6) Use of environmental management systems (EMS) for urban management 

7) Medical and hospital waste disposal 

- Workshops and seminars on: 

1) Management practices of lakes and reservoirs focusing on eutrophication in Africa 

2) Freshwater augmentation in Africa 

3) Adopting, applying and operating ESTs for domestic sewage in the wider Caribbean region 

- A video showing IETC's approach in facilitating the adoption and use of ESTs for sustainable cities 

- A regional consultation with stakeholders to identify EST for water quality management in the Mekong 

River Basin 

- Joint training programme of IETC and Technical Cooperation Council of the Philippines (TCPP) on 

environmental management for LDCs (Least Developed Countries) 

17

A Brief History 

Capacity Building 

1995.3IETC held a symposium, "Forum on the Caspian, Aral and Dead 

Seas", together with UNU, Kyoto University, Lake Biwa Research 

Institute and ILEC. 

1995.6 IETC's Training Programme on Environmental Technology 

Assessment (EnTA) was reviewed at the Expert Meeting, 5-6 June 

1995. 

1995.6 "Symposium on Management of Earthquake Wastes" was held with 

the Japan Waste Management Consultant Association 

(JWMCA) in collaboration with the International Solid 

Wastes and Public Cleansing Association (ISWA), 12-13 

June 1995. 

1995.6 IETC Contributed to USETI Sustainable Cities Training in 

presenting a workshop, "Environmentally Sustainable Cities: 

An Urban Development Leadership", 5-16 June 1995. 

 

 

1995.9 IETC held a workshop to raise gender consciousness on 25 

September 1995. 

1995.10 "The 6th International Conference on the Conservation and 

Management of Lakes" was organized by Ibaraki Prefecture and 

ILEC, supported by IETC and UNEP Freshwater Unit, 23-27 

October 1995. 

 

Expert Meeting on EnTA training programme in Osaka, Japan, June 1995. 

Fostering technology cooperation, partnerships and transfer 

1994.11IETC and the United Nations Centre for HumanSettlements 

(UNCHS-Habitat) transformed theSustainable Cities 

Programme (SCP) into a joint facility in November 1994. 

1994.11IETC started a project with Shenyang to launch its City Agenda 

21, in close cooperation with the Sustainable Cities Programme 

of UNCHS (Habitat). 

IETC consultants visiting an industrial plants as part 

of Sustainable Shenyang and Wuhan Programmes. 

Improving access to information on Environmentally Sound Technologies 

1995.10IETC jointly coordinated an "Expert Meeting on Environmentally 

Sound Technology Information Systems" in Paris, 9-11 

October 1995. 

1996.1 IETC co-sponsored the "Asia-Pacific Expert Group Meeting on 

Transfer of ESTs among Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises 

(SMEs)" organized by ESCAP and APCTT in New Delhi, India, 

22 - 24 January 1996. 

1996.2 IETC, with a support of GEC, launched its homepage on 15 

February 1996. 

 

 

Conferences/Exhibitions/Papers/Lectures 

IETC's homepage. 

1995.4Interim Report was submitted to the "Third Session of the Commission on 

Sustainable Development (CSD)" in April 1995. 

1995.11IETC participated in the exhibition, "The 15th Scientific Instruments Show" 

in Osaka, Japan, 15-18 November 1995. 

1996.4 IETC joined the poster exhibition at the event, "Architecture and 

Environment" at Slovak Technical University in Bratislava, Slovak Republic, 

2-12 April 1996. 

IETC's first poster. 

18



1995.3IETC held a symposium, "Forum on the Caspian, Aral and Dead 

Seas", together with UNU, Kyoto University, Lake Biwa Research 

Institute and ILEC. 

1995.6 IETC's Training Programme on Environmental Technology 

Assessment (EnTA) was reviewed at the Expert Meeting, 5-6 June 

1995. 

1995.6 "Symposium on Management of Earthquake Wastes" was held with 

the Japan Waste Management Consultant Association 

(JWMCA) in collaboration with the International Solid 

Wastes and Public Cleansing Association (ISWA), 12-13 

June 1995. 

1995.6 IETC Contributed to USETI Sustainable Cities Training in 

presenting a workshop, "Environmentally Sustainable Cities: 

An Urban Development Leadership", 5-16 June 1995. 

 

 

1995.9 IETC held a workshop to raise gender consciousness on 25 

September 1995. 

1995.10 "The 6th International Conference on the Conservation and 

Management of Lakes" was organized by Ibaraki Prefecture and 

ILEC, supported by IETC and UNEP Freshwater Unit, 23-27 

October 1995. 

 

Expert Meeting on EnTA training programme in Osaka, Japan, June 1995. 


1994.11IETC and the United Nations Centre for HumanSettlements 

(UNCHS-Habitat) transformed theSustainable Cities 

Programme (SCP) into a joint facility in November 1994. 

1994.11IETC started a project with Shenyang to launch its City Agenda 

21, in close cooperation with the Sustainable Cities Programme 

of UNCHS (Habitat). 

IETC consultants visiting an industrial plants as part 

of Sustainable Shenyang and Wuhan Programmes. 


1995.10IETC jointly coordinated an "Expert Meeting on Environmentally 

Sound Technology Information Systems" in Paris, 9-11 

October 1995. 

1996.1 IETC co-sponsored the "Asia-Pacific Expert Group Meeting on 

Transfer of ESTs among Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises 

(SMEs)" organized by ESCAP and APCTT in New Delhi, India, 

22 - 24 January 1996. 

1996.2 IETC, with a support of GEC, launched its homepage on 15 

February 1996. 

 

 


IETC's homepage. 

1995.4Interim Report was submitted to the "Third Session of the Commission on 

Sustainable Development (CSD)" in April 1995. 

1995.11IETC participated in the exhibition, "The 15th Scientific Instruments Show" 

in Osaka, Japan, 15-18 November 1995. 

1996.4 IETC joined the poster exhibition at the event, "Architecture and 

Environment" at Slovak Technical University in Bratislava, Slovak Republic, 

2-12 April 1996. 

IETC's first poster. 

18

19941996 

1995.11"IETC Pilot Workshop on Environmental Technology Assessment 

(EnTA)" was organized in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 12-17 

November 1995. 

1996.1 IETC, together with IE, presented UNEP EnTA activities at the 

"African Regional Workshop on EnTA in Support of the Transfer 

of ESTs and International Technology Cooperation" in Dakar, 

Senegal,17-19 January 1996. 

1996.1 IETC, jointly with BPT Technologi of the Government of Indonesia, 

held a workshop on technology needs for lake management in 

Jakarta, Indonesia, 16-17 January 1996. 

1996.3 "International Citizen's Contribution to Sustainable Development - 

Earth Environment Citizens, and the New Lifestyle" was held in 

Osaka, Japan, 29-30 March 1996. 

1996.4 

1996.5 

An "EnRA Pilot Workshop" was conducted by IETC in Katowice, 

Poland, 22-27 April 1996. 

IETC contributed to the "Workshop on Localizing Agenda 21 for 

African Councillors" organized by UNCHS (Habitat) for Sub- 

Saharan Africa in Nakuru, Kenya, 6-9 May 1996. 

"Workshop on Localizing Agenda 21 for African 

Councillors" in Kenya, May 1996. 

1994.11IETC started a Local Agenda 21 project with Katowice 

Agglomeration in Poland in close cooperation with Sustainable 

Cities Programme of UNCHS (Habitat). 

Katowice Agglomeration in Poland. 

1996.4 IETC coordinated an "Expert Meeting on 

International Source Book on 

Environmentally Sound Technologies for 

Municipal Solid Waste Management" at 

Harvard University, USA, 9-11 April 1996. 

"International Source Book on ESTs for 

Municipal Solid Waste Management" 

1996.4 

1996.6 

IETC participated in the "Fourth Session of the Commission on 

Sustainable Development (CSD)", 18 April - 3 May 1996, and 

presented a draft of "Survey of Information Systems Related 

to ESTs". 

IETC, together with IE and INFOTERRA, played a pioneering role in 

the establishment of the new UNEP EST Network Programme, 

June 1996. 

1996.4 IETC joined the panel exhibition at"Metropolis '96" in Tokyo, Japan, 

23-26 April 1996. 

1996.7 On invitation of the Secretariat of the Basel Convention on the Control of 

Trans-boundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Disposal, IETC 

participated in meetings in Brits, South Africa, 22-26 July and in 

Beijing, China, 9-11 July 1996. 

1996.11IETC, together with GEC, participated in "NEW EARTH '96 - The 

Challenge: The Environmental Rebirth of the Earth (Global Environment 

Technology Show)" in Osaka, Japan, 13-16 November 1996. 

''New Earth '96,'' 

in Osaka, Japan. 

19



1996.10"Workshop for Councillors as Guardians of the Environment and 

Promoters of ESTs" was held by IETC in collaboration with the 

UNCHS (Habitat) in Nakuru, Kenya, 15-17 October 1996. 

1996.10 IETC held a "Seminar on Adopting ESTs for Municipal Solid Waste 

Management" together with the City Government of Puerto Princesa, 

the League of Cities of the Philippines and ISWA, in Puerto Princesa, 

the Philippines, 21- 24 October 1996. 

1996.11 "Workshop on Environmental Technology Assessment (EnTA) in 

Sub-Saharan Africa: A UNEP EnTA Leadership Programme" was 

organized in cooperation with the Centre for Regional 

Development of Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher 

Education in South Africa, 24-28 November 1996. 

1997.6IETC organized a workshop, "Environmental Risk Assessment 

(EnRA) for Sustainable Cities: A National Workshop" as part of the 

UNEP/UNCHS (Habitat) SCP in Shenyang, China, 2 - 5 June 1997. 

 

 

Workshop on EnTA in Sub-Saharan Africa, November 1996. 


1996.11IETC and Shiga Prefectural Government held the "International Shiga 

Forum on Technology for Water Management in the 21st Century" in 

cooperation with Environment Agency, Government of Japan and ILEC 

at the Lake Biwa Museum in Shiga, Japan, 25-27 November1996. 

IETC joined the UN WMO and other UN agencies in celebration of the 

World Water Day on 22 March 1997. Formal ceremonies were 

conducted on 25 March 1997 in Morocco. 

1997.3 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


1997.5 IETC, together with UNEP/UNCHS (Habitat) SCP, organized an "National 

Workshop on Environmental Technology Assessment (EnTA) in China: An 

IETC Leadership Programme" in Wuhan, China, 26-29 May 1997. 

1997.6IETC participated in the Fourth Session of CSD. UNEP was called on to 

continue its work in developing an EST information system network. 

1997.6 IETC participated in ENVIRONTECH '97 (2nd International Trade Fair on 

Environmental Technologies) - "Industry & Local Governments: Sharing 

Responsibilities Toward Environmental Excellence" in Cebu City, 

the Philippines, 26-28 June 1997. 

 

1996.6 IETC, jointly with GEC, organized a Symposium on ESTs at Habitat 

II World Conference in Istanbul, Turkey, 3-14 June 1996. 

1996.9 "Global Pilot Workshop on Adopting,Applying and Operating 

ESTs" was held by IETC at the Dresden University of Technology 

in Dresden, Germany, 2-10 September 1996. 

 

Habitat II Symposium on ESTs in Turkey, June 1996. 


1997.2 IETC presented the first lecture on "Bioassays in Water Quality Assessment" 

at JICA/ILEC Training Course on Lake Management. Text was included in 

the training book. 

1997.5 IETC, together with GEC, presented a booth in "97 Techno-Frontier 

Kyushu", in Japan 10-13 May 1997. 

1997.6 IETC, together with GEC, participated in "The 6th International Waste 

Disposal Exhibition" in Osaka, Japan, 11-14 June 1997. 

1997.6 IETC participated in the international conference, "Pathways to 

Sustainability" in Newcastle, Australia, 1-5 June 1997. 

 

1997.7 IETC, together with ILEC, participated in the exhibition at "The 5th 

Global Environmental Symposium in Tokyo, Japan on 3 July 1997. 

1997.10 IETC, together with GEC and ILEC, participated in the exhibition at "One 

World Festival '97" in Osaka, Japan on 19 October 1997. 

1997.11 IETC, together with GEC and ILEC, participated at the Global EcoFair 

'97 in Kobe, Japan, 27-30 November 1997. 

1998.2 IETC presented the 2nd lecture on "Bioassays in Water Quality 

Assessment" at JICA/ILEC Training Course on Lake Management. 

Text was included in the training book. 

20

19961997/8 

1997.12 IETC held a "Workshop for Asia/Pacific on Adopting, Applying 

and Operating ESTs" in collaboration with the Institute for 

Environmental Science, Murdoch University, in Australia, 3-13 

December 1997. 

1998.5IETC held an "Expert Meeting on Sustainable Waste Water and 

Storm Water Management" in Osaka, Japan, 6-8 May 1998. 

1998.6 IETC, together with ILEC, organized a mini-symposium, "Thinking of 

Global Environment Problems Through the Protection of Water for 

Life" in commemoration of WED at the Lake Biwa Museum in Shiga, 

Japan on 5 June 1998. 

1998.9 IETC, in collaboration with Regional Environment Centre in 

Hungary, organized a roundtable, "Application of Environmental 

Management System (EMS) Principles to Urban Management", in 

Szentendre, Hungary, 7-9 September 1998. 

"Expert Meeting on Sustainable Waste Water and Storm Water Management" 

in Osaka, Japan, May 1998. 

1997.10 IETC participated and presented the project on eutrophication in the "The 

7th World Lakes Conference, Lacar '97", held in San Martin de los 

Andes, Argentina, by ILEC and Argentina's National Institute for Water 

and Environment. 

1997.12 IETC participated in the COP3 (the 3rd Session of the Conference of the 

Parties) held in Kyoto, Japan from 1-10 December 1997. 

 

 

COP3 in Kyoto, Japan, December 1997. 

1996.10 The first prototype of maESTro (version 0.1) was developed. 

1997.2 The second prototype of maSTro (version 0.2) was developed. 

1997.4 IETC launched a newly-developed Searchable EST Directory, 

maESTro, during the 5th Session of the Commission for Sustainable 

Development (CSD) in New York, USA, 7-25 April 1997. 

1997.5 IETC and IE convened an international meeting of environmental 

information providers and users in Paris, France, 26-28 May 1997. 

1997.6 maESTro was introduced during the 19th Special Session of 

UNGASS, Earth Summit Rio+5, at the joint booth of IE and IETC in 

New York, USA, 23-27 June 1997. 

 

 

CD-ROM version of maESTro. 

1998.3 

1998.5 

1998.9 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.. 

IETC participated in exhibition at "ENVITEC" in Dusseldorf, Germany, 2-6 

March 1998. 

IETC presented a paper at the "International Conference on Integrated 

Coastal Management (ICM)" in Genoa, Italy, 26-30 May 1998. 

IETC attended the "Environment Congress for Asia and the Pacific (ECO ASIA 

'98)" in Sendai, Japan, 19-20 September 98, and the "APEC Symposium on 

Environmental Education towards Sustainable Cities" in Sendai, Japan, 

20-21 September 1998. 

1998.10 

 

 

1998.10 

 

 

 

 

IETC gave a lecture on "Environmental Consideration in Forest Resource 

Management: A Global View" for the 49th Joint Conference of the Japan 

Forestry Society Kansai and Shikoku Branches, in Osaka, 29 October 1998. 

IETC, together with GEC and ILEC, presented a booth in the 

"International Cooperation Festival '98: Let's Start Small" on 3 and 4 

October 1998, in Tokyo. 

21



1998.11IETC and UNEP Caribbean Regional Coordinating Unit jointly 

organized the "Regional Workshop on Adopting, Applying and 

Operating ESTs for Domestic and Industrial Waste Water" at 

Montego Bay, Jamaica, 16-20 November 1998. 

 

 

"Regional Workshop on Application of EMS 

Principles to Urban Management" in 

Hungary, Jnly 1999. 

1999.3 IETC, together with the Technical Cooperation Council of the 

Philippines - Department of Foreign Affairs, held the "International 

Environmental Management Training" in Metro Manila, 

the Philippines, 22 March-2 April 1999. 

1999.6 IETC, together with ILEC, organised a mini-symposium, "Let's Get 

Together to Recover Our Beautiful Lake" in commemoration of 

the World Environment Day at the Lake Biwa Museum in Shiga, 

Japan, 13 June 1999. 

1999.7 IETC, in collaboration with the Regional Environment Center 

(REC) for Central and Eastern Europe in Hungary, organised the 

"Regional Workshop on Application of EMS Principles to Urban 

Management" in Szentendre, Hungary, 6-9 July 1999. 

 


1998.10 IETC participated in the "National Conference on the Potential 

of Water Harvesting" held in New Delhi, India, 3-5 

October 1998. 

1998.12 In response to a request from the Philippine Women's 

University (PWU), IETC provided technical advice on designing 

an integrated waste management system for their new campus 

in Quezon City, the Philippines. 

1998.12On behalf of IETC, two freshwater experts from the School of 

Aquatic Sciences and Natural Resources Management of 

Deakin University, Australia, visited Moratuwa, Sri Lanka to 

provide policy and management advice. 

1999.4 IETC presented a paper on "Freshwater Management and 

Technology Transfer" at the International Forum on "Water 

Security in the Third Millennium, Mediterranean Countries as a 

Case" in Como, Italy, 12-15 April 1999. 

 


1997.7 

1997.10 

1998.2 

1998.3 

The first official version of maESTro (version 1.0) was developed. 

In addition to floppy diskette and report formats, CD-ROM format of 

maESTro was developed. 

IETC, together with GEC in collaboration with the Indonesian 

Government and the Environment Agency of Japan, held an 

"International Seminar on EST Information Systems" in Indonesia, 

 

 

 

18 - 20 February 1998. 

Web-based version of maESTro was launched on-line in IETC's 

homepage. 

"International Seminar on EST information Systems" in Indonesia, February 1998. 


1998.10 IETC, together with ILEC, presented a booth in the "Shiga Environmental 

Business Messe '98" in Nagahama, Shiga, Japan, 11-13 October 1998. 

1998.11 IETC participated in the exhibition at the "Solution that don't cost the earth" 

in Toronto, Canada, 24-25 November 1998. 

 

"Shiga Environment Business 

Messe '98" in Shiga, Japan, 

October 1998. 

1998.11IETC presented a paper at the "International Conference on 

Ecological Engineering (ICEE)" held in Calcutta, India, 23 - 27 


1998.11IETC, together with GEC and ILEC, presented a booth in the "One World 

Festival: Let's Cooperate together for One World" in Osaka, Japan,3 


1998.12IETC participated in the exhibition at "The UNCRD Global Forum" in 

Nagoya, Japan, 1-4 December 1998. 

1998.12IETC delivered a paper on "Women, Environment and Technology" at the 

plenary session of the International Congress on the Role of Women in 

History and Nation Building, in Manila, the Philippines, 8-12 December 

1998. 

22

1997/81999 

1999.7 IETC, together with CEDARE and AEEC, held the "Inter-Regional 

Workshop on Technologies of Sustainable Waste Management 

(SWM)" in Alexandria, Egypt, 13-15 July 1999. 

1999.11IETC and UNCHS SKAP (Sustainable Katowice Agglomeration 

Project), in conjunction with UNDP, held a technical roundtable 

on trenchless technologies in Katowice, Poland 8-9 November 

1999. 

 

 

"Inter-Regional Workshop on Technologies of Sustainable Waste Management" 

in Egypt, July 1999. 

"International Symposium on Efficient Water Use in Urban Areas" in Kobe, Japan, June 1999. 

 

1999.6 IETC held the "International Symposium on Efficient Water Use 

in Urban Areas-Innovative Ways of Finding Water for Cities" 

in Kobe, Japan, 8-10 June 1999. 

1999.11IETC, in collaboration with the Sustainable Katowice 

Agglomeration Project (SKAP) in Poland, organised the 

Trenchless Technologies Roundtable in Katowice, Poland, 8-9 


 

1998.4 IETC participated in CSD-6 and Internet Cafe held in New York, 

USA, 20 April - 1 May 1998. 

1999.7maESTro is upgraded to version 2.0. 

 

The Internet version of maESTro (left) 

and people browsing maESTro (right). 

1999.2 

1999.2 

1999.4 

1999.5 

1999.6 

1999.9 

IETC presented information materials at "The 20th Governing 

Council (GC20)" in Nairobi, Kenya, 1-5 February 1999. 

IETC presented the 3rd lecture on "Bioassays in Water Quality Assessment" 

at JICA/ILEC Training Course on Lake Management. Text was included in 

the training book. 

IETC participated in the exhibition at "Eyes on the Environment" in Fukuoka, 

Japan, 5-12 April 1999. 

IETC participated in "The 8th World Lake Conference, Lake '99", held by 

ILEC and City of Copenhagen in Denmark, and also participated on the ILEC 

Scientific Committee Meeting and presented the project on the short series 

on PAMOLAR. 

IETC participated in exhibition, "Global Echo" at the World Environment 

Day Ceremony in Tokyo, Japan, 4-5 June 1999. 

IETC participated in the exhibition at the "Living Lakes Conference" at 

Mono Lake, USA, 29 September - 7 October 1999. 

 

1999.10 IETC participated in the exhibition at "'99 Hanam Expo" in Hanam, Korea, 

21 September -20 October 1999. 

1999.10 IETC, together with GEC and ILEC, participated in the exhibition at 

"International Cooperation Festival '99" in Tokyo, Japan, 2-3 October 1999. 

1999.10 IETC, together with GEC, participated in the New Earth '99 Exhibition at 

INTEX Osaka in Japan, 20-23 October 1999. 

 

"International Cooperation Festival '99" 

in Tokyo, Japan, October 1999. 

23

List of Publications 

IETC Technical Publication Series 

No.1: 

No.2: 

No.3: 

No.4: 

No.5: 

No.6: 

No.7: 

No.8: 

No.9: 

No.11: 

Training Needs in Utilising Environmental Technology Assessment (EnTA) for Decision-making - A Preliminary 

Study to Strengthen Capabilities in Managing Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs) (Nov.1995) 

Earthquake Waste Symposium Osaka, 12 - 13 June 1995 - Proceedings (Jan.1996) 

Environmental Risk Assessment for Sustainable Cities - IETC position paper (Mar.1996) 

Forum on the Caspian, Aral and Dead Seas: Symposium on the Aral Sea and Surrounding Region - Proceedings 

(June 1996) 

Work-book for Training in Environmental Technology Assessment (EnTA) for Decision-makers 

(Aug.1997) 

International Source Book on Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs) for Municipal Solid Waste 

Management (Oct.1996) 

The Councillor as Guardian of the Environment - A Training Handbook for Elected Leadership on How to Utilize 

Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs) (Nov.1997) 

Sourcebook of Alternative Technologies for Freshwater Augmentation (in Africa, Some Countries in Asia, East and 

Central Europe, Small Island Developing States, and Latin America and the Caribbean) (Aug.1998) 

Technology Needs for Lake Management in Indonesia - Case Studies: Lake Rawa Danau and Rawa Pening, Java 

(Dec.1998) 

Planning and Management of Lakes and Reservoirs: An Integrated Approach to Eutrophication (Dec.1999) 

IETC Report Series 

No.1: 

No.2: 

No.3: 

No.4: 

No.5: 

No.6: 

Workbook for Training in Adopting, Applying and Operating Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs) - A Pilot 

Programme (Oct.1997) 

Principles of Municipal Solid Waste Management - Proceedings of a Seminar (Mar.1998) 

Environmental Technology Assessment (EnTA) in Sub-Saharan Africa - a UNEP EnTA Leadership Training 

Programme (Sep.1998) 

International Shiga Forum on Technology for Water Management in the 21st Century - Proceedings (Oct.1998) 

Proceedings of the Workshop on Adopting, Applying and Operating Environmentally Sound Technologies for 

Domestic and Industrial Wastewater Treatment for the Wider Caribbean Region (Nov.1999) 

Workbook for Training in Adopting, Applying and Operating Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs) - 

Regional Workshop (Mar.1999) 

Others 

UNEP Survey of Information Systems Related to Environmentally Sound Technologies (ESTs) (Apr.1997) 

Proceedings of the International Experts Meeting on Sustainable Management of Waste Water and Storm Water 

(Dec.1998) 

IETC's INSIGHT (periodical newsletter) 

24

O ffice 

Osaka Office 

The building of Osaka office is designed, while 

being comfortable, functional, as a showcase of 

the experimental application of ESTs, where 

visitors could experience progressive technology 

in action. This facility is powered mainly by a 

nearby power generating incineration plant, and 

in part by new energy systems featuring solar 

cells and fuel cells. In atrium, it utilizes a natural 

cooling system based on a traditional Japanese 

architectural method. Offices are designed semiopen 

with natural sunlight, equipped with energysaving 

lighting, water-saving sanitary devices. 

Thus the facility demonstrates a key aspect of the 

Centre's approach to an ideal urban environment - 

friendly to both to people and to nature. 

Shiga Office 

The building of Shiga office, located right next to 

Lake Biwa, is also designed to utilize not only its 

wonderful view but also natural resources based on 

ESTs. Combined with electronic air-conditioning 

system, it fully utilizes natural resources to keep the 

office comfortable. In summer, air is drawn in to 

the building through a cooling chamber, where 

air is cooled with rainwater and groundwater. 

Cooled air is circulated underneath the floors, 

absorbing excess heat from the building, and 

flows through offices. Warmed up air is released 

outside through an airflow hole. In winter, warm air 

under the roof is led underneath the floor, warmed 

up by hot water heated up with solar system, and 

circulated throughout the building. 

An atrium with palm trees (left), a library (right-top) and 

an audio-visual room (right-bottom). 

A library facing Lake Biwa (left and right-top) and 

a lobby with a video screen (right-bottom).

United Nations Environment Programme- 

International Environmental Technology Centre 

Osaka Office: 

2-110 Ryokuchi koen, Tsurumi-ku, Osaka 538-0036 Japan 

telephone:(81-6)6915-4581 

fax: (81-6)6915-0304 

Shiga Office: 

1091 Oroshimo-cho, Kusatsu-city, Shiga525-0001 Japan 

telephone:(81-77)568-4582 

fax: (81-77)568-4587 

E-mail: ietc@unep.or.jp 

Internet: http://www.unep.or.jp 

Printed on recycled paper.

Activities - International Environmental Technology Centre

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